Lesson 3.04 Taft and Wilson's Foreign Policy

• Introduction
• Learn
• Try It
• Task

Introduction

Central Question: What effect did Taft and Wilson's foreign policies have on the world?

People do not always respond the way we expect them to respond or make the decisions we think they should make. Even our closes friends sometimes make choices that we do not necessarily agree with. Well, this is similar to what happened when President Roosevelt passed the torch to President Taft, expecting him to maintain and carry on his policies.

Analyze the political cartoon. Although it looks as if both men are happy with leaving Roosevelt's policies in the White House, Taft chose a different direction than the "big stick" policy.

The foreign policy decisions made by Presidents Taft and WilsonTaft was President from 1909 - 1913. Wilson was president from 1913 - 1921. were guided by their respective beliefs about U.S. involvement in world affairs. President Taft, like RooseveltPresident from 1901 - 1909, favored an imperialistic approachprocess whereby stronger nations attempt to dominate weaker nations, but with dollars instead of guns. Taft's "dollar diplomacy"term used to describe Taft's foreign policy encouraged American investment in foreign nations to help stabilize struggling nations and to open new markets for U.S. businesses.

President Wilson, on the other hand, opposed Taft and Roosevelt’s expansionist ideals and worked diligently to reverse course. His "moral diplomacy"term used to describe Wilson's foreign policy focused on pulling American investments out of foreign lands and protecting people from oppressive governments.

Taft and Wilson’s approaches to U.S. intervention varied greatly, but both men left an enduring impact on the development of the United States and the world at-large.

 

Photograph Citation:

Ehrhart, S. D. , Approximately , Artist."Baby, kiss papa good-by" / Ehrhart. N.Y.: Published by Keppler & Schwarzmann, Puck Building, 1909. Image. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <https://www.loc.gov/item/2011647430/>.